Phonograph needle sharpener



March 29, 1949. GAYLOR PHONOGRAPH NEEDLE SHARPENER Filed 'June 1, 1946 Fz e.

F1674 FIrE all"! I K J Patented Mar. 29,1949

Peter J. Gaylor, Union, N. J.

Application June 1, 1946, Serial No. 673,851

1 Claim.

This invention deals with phonograph needle sharpeners. More specifically, it relates to a needle sharpener which may be mounted on the turntable post of a phonograph and sharpened by rotating the turntable.

At the present time, steel phonograph needles are used for a few records and then discarded. More permanent needles of metal carbides and jewels are available but their cost is extremely high.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive needle sharpener which may be mounted on the post of a phonograph turntable. Another object is to provide a hone of novel design for sharpening the needle point. An additional object is to provide a means for holding the needle While it is sharpened. Other objects will become apparent from the description which is to follow.

The invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the drawing in which Figure 1 is a side view in cross section of a sharpening unit mounted on a phonograph turntable post. Figure 2 is a cross section across 22 of Figure 1, while Figures 3, 4 and are top, cross-sectional side, and bottom views respectively, of a sharpening hone which may be employed. A tool for holding the needle is shown in Figure 6.

In Figure 7 is shown a cross-sectional side view of another form of sharpening unit, while Figure 8 is a cross-sectional top view of the same unit. Another form of sharpening device, shown as a cross-sectional side view, is depicted in Figure 9. Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the various figures.

Referring again to the drawing, numeral I represents a post in the center of the turntable and which fits into the hole of the phonograph record. This post rotates with the record. On the top of this post is fitted a plastic or rubber holder 2 having thin sleeve 3 fitting over the post. The top of holder 2 is provided with groove or recess 4 in which is inserted guide 5 having hole 6 for the needle. The bottom of guide 5 is provided with a square shaped hole 1 in which fits hone 8. Guide 5 is preferably of asymmetrical shape at the bottom I4 so as to prevent rotation.

The sharpening hone 8 has a conical depression 9 in which the needle point is inserted for sharpening purposes. The needle may be held in the hand as the post rotates, or first inserted in a tool such as the one shown in Figure 6. This tool comprises a circular holder 10 having extending lugs l l which may be held between the fingers to prevent rotation. In the center of the circular holder 10 is hole l2 in which the wide end of the needle is inserted. The needle is held fast in the hole by retaining screw I3.

It is possible to employ a hollow hone such as that shown in Figures 4 and 5. In this case, a hole is bored through from the center of the cone to allow grinding fragments to drop out of the hone sharpening section. It will be observed that the whole sharpening unit does not take up very much space and does not interfere with the use of the post for playing of records and need not be removed from the post except to change a worn out hone section.

As shown in Figures '7 and 8, a shaped hone 8 may be inserted from the side through hole 25. In this case, the hone is a fiat piece having an angular section similar to the desired section to be maintained on the needle. This hone may be forced in or out of needle channel 6 by turning screw 26, ahead of which may be a small spring 25.

Another alternative sharpening means is shown in Figure 9. In this case, the needle I 6 is placed upside down in hole 23 of guide l4, and fastened therein by turning screw [5. Hone 8 is a flat hone mounted in plate 2| on arm 20 by screw 22. Arm 2!] is pivoted at l9 to swivel H which rides in groove l8. When post I is rotated, needle l6 rotates also, but swivel I! riding in groove l8 and holding arm 20 and hone 8, is stationary, since arm 20 is held by the hand. The needle is sharpened by placing the hone against the needle point as the latter rotates. Hole 21 is provided in the holder above post I to allow for egress of air when sleeve 3 is slipped over post I.

It is of course possible to employ a sleeve 3 wider than post I, in which case a set screw may be provided to hold the sleeve fast to the post to prevent rotation of the sleeve. However, a tight fitting sleeve is preferred.

It is also possible to employ a removable needle guide in which the needle is gripped tightly. This guide can then be slipped over the hone and held with the hand, exerting a slight pressure against the hone until the needle is sharpened.

I claim:

.A phonograph needle sharpener comprising a 3 holder having, on its lower portion, a sleeve of such size as to be held securely when slipped over the end of the phonograph turntable post, a needle guide in the upper portion of the holder for holding a needle, point upward, gripping means for holding said needle tightly in said guide, a swivel ring disposed around the lower section of the guide, an arm on said swivel ring, another arm pivoted on said first arm, and a hone mounted at the free end of said second arm in such a manner as to contact the needle point at sharpening position when the arm is depressed toward the needle.

PETERtJ, GAYLORU REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 704,428 Allen July 8, 1902 1,292,894 Simpson Jan. 28, 1919 1,349,009 Silberstang Aug. 10, 1920 1,360,511 Emerson Nov. 80, 1920 1,915,087 Culman June 20, 1933 2,264,598 Stainbrook Dec. 2, 1941 

